No abstract

Diabetic kidney disease (DKD) is a serious complication of diabetes, affecting millions of people worldwide. Inflammation and oxidative stress are key contributors to the development and progression of DKD, making them potential targets for therapeutic interventions. Sodium-glucose cotransporter 2 inhibitors (SGLT2i) have emerged as a promising class of drugs, with evidence demonstrating that they can improve renal outcomes in people with diabetes. However, the exact mechanism by which SGLT2i exert their renoprotective effects is not yet fully understood. This study demonstrates that dapagliflozin treatment attenuates renal injury observed in type 2 diabetic mice. This is evidenced by the reduction in renal hypertrophy and proteinuria. Furthermore, dapagliflozin decreases tubulointerstitial fibrosis and glomerulosclerosis by mitigating the generation of reactive oxygen species and inflammation, which are activated through the production of CYP4A-induced 20-HETE. Our findings provide insights onto a novel mechanistic pathway by which SGLT2i exerts their renoprotective effects. Overall, and to our knowledge, the study provides critical insights into the pathophysiology of DKD and represents an important step towards improving outcomes for people with this devastating condition.

Surgeon technical improvements made in the 1980s significantly decreased the morbidity and mortality associated with pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). While minimally invasive surgery (MIS) is now the standard surgical approach for many benign and malignant pathologies, the technical complexity associated with PD presents many challenges to MIS adoption. However, advancements in robotic technology have done much to ameliorate mechanical impediments. Compared to laparoscopic surgery, the robotic platform provides surgeons with enhanced visualization, greater degrees of freedom and range of motion, tremor elimination, and superior ergonomic positioning. Although cost and availability concerns persist, training programs have increasingly incorporated robotic curricula, boosting the prevalence of robotic procedures, including robotic PD (RPD). While prospective data are limited, studies evaluating RPD demonstrate safety, equivalent short-term oncological outcomes, and longer operating times compared to open PD. Furthermore, exciting avenues exist for the future of RPD, ranging from continued instrument innovations to AI-enhanced adjuncts. Robotics has the potential to improve PD for patients and surgeons alike; however, further evaluation of oncologic and surgical outcomes requires well-powered, randomized, prospective trials to confirm the results of earlier retrospective studies, given the significant biases present. In this article, we review the progression of minimally invasive PD, present outcomes from studies evaluating RPD, and discuss areas of innovation for RPD.